Report: Evan Mobley agrees to five-year, $224 million extension with Cleveland Cavaliers

Evan Mobley has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The big man will make the rookie maximum $224 million with opportunity to see as much as $269 million if he makes an All-NBA team or wins Defensive Player of the Year next season.

Mobley is coming off of his third season with the Cavaliers and was preparing to enter the final year of his rookie deal. He helped guide Cleveland to the second round of the playoffs this past season while averaging 15.7 points. 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

The former No. 3 pick out of USC in 2021, Mobley appeared in only 50 regular season contests as he battled injuries in 2023-24. He was named first team All-Defense and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting the season prior.

Mobley is set to carry a cap hit of $11.2 million next season and will see that number increase to $38.7 million by 2025-26. However, given what he’s shown so far in his young NBA career, he’s worth every penny.

The 6-foot-11 center has established himself as one of the elite paint defenders in the NBA in a short amount of time. He is one of only four players to record 300 blocks and 150 steals since entering the league, joining Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Rudy Gobert.

Mobley has been on the radar among basketball pundits ever since his high school days when he was a five-star prospect. He ranked as the No. 4 overall player and No. 1 center in the 2020 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He would go on to average 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game in his lone season with USC to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and All-American honors.

Evan Mobley isn’t the only Cavaliers player to receive a contract extension this summer. Cleveland also extended star guard Donovan Mitchell for the next three years, indicating they are ready to contend for years to come.

The Cavs also bring back center Jarrett Allen, who is signed through the 2025-26 season, to pair with Mobley. Additionally, they still have Darius Garland and Max Strus, meaning all five of their starters are set to be back.